One of Canada’s largest provinces is looking to not just slow study permit growth, but reverse it. The Government of Quebec recently tabled legislation to seek greater control of the circumstances in which study permits are issued. This comes as a part of a larger strategy from the region’s policymakers to take on a more targeted approach to growth. Should the rest of Canada follow?
Quebec Saw Explosive Temporary Resident Growth, 24% of Them Are Foreign Students
Canada has seen explosive growth of its temporary population, and Quebec is one of the top destinations. The province saw its foreign student population rise 140% to 120k students from 2014 to 2023. Study permits now represent 24% of the region’s non-permanent resident population, which has doubled to 600k people over the same period.
Quebec To Lower Study Permits, Seeks More Control Over Growth
Last week the province announced it would table legislation to throttle study permits. Once adopted, the new rules will allow Quebec’s government to manage its study permits by controlling different variables, as need be. Some of those variables to throttle the study permits include the location and region of study, institution, and/or program sought. It may be a new concept for Canada, but it resembles many of the controls seen in countries like the United States.
In addition, the legislation will also give the province more control over transfers. A study permit in the province will only be for the institution it’s granted. Any changes to a person’s field or institution of study will require provincial approval. This may be one of the larger changes to their student population.
Canada currently allows those on study permits to switch schools once they arrive, as long as they notify the government. There’s no approval, just a routine form update. As a result, it’s not uncommon for students to arrive at a school they have no desire to be at, hoping to use it as a stepping stone. If this becomes a more broadly adopted policy, it may lead to a drop at second-tier institutions.
“Our government has decided to give itself new powers to manage its immigration policy for foreign students,” explained Jean-François Roberge, Quebec’s Minister of Immigration, Francization, and Integration.
Adding, “We have a responsibility to use all the levers we have to do our part in reducing the number of non-permanent residents. That is exactly what we are doing with this bill. It is a gesture that allows us to make our own choices.”
The province’s decision is part of a wider strategy to adopt a more targeted approach to growth. Earlier this year, Quebec worked with the Federal government to impose a limit on low wage temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Montreal during periods of elevated unemployment. A week later, the policy was extended to the rest of the country’s CMAs.
Should Federal policymakers also follow, and adopt stronger controls to build a more targeted approach to foreign students?
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